A Wix to WordPress migration is a rebuild, not a file transfer. Wix has no way to export a site to another host, so every page, post and form has to be recreated on WordPress from the live site. Done carefully, visitors see the same site, old links keep working and search rankings follow it across.
People leave Wix for a handful of reasons. The site has outgrown the editor, a developer wants to add something Wix won't allow, or the owner wants a site they can take anywhere. The worry is always the same one. Will I have to start over?
You won't, but someone does have to rebuild it. Here is how we do that, step by step, and what you should check whoever does the work.
Why can't you just export a Wix site?
Wix sites run on Wix's own platform, built from Wix's own components. There is no file of your site that another host could open. Wix says as much in its help center, which tells owners a site can't be moved to an external host.
What you can take out is content. Your text is on the page, your images are downloadable, and your blog posts can be read from the live site or the RSS feed. That is enough to rebuild from, as long as nothing gets missed. So a Wix to WordPress migration is really two jobs. Find everything, then rebuild it faithfully.
Step one is a list of every address on the site
Before anything gets built, we make a list of every page the site has. Wix publishes a sitemap at /sitemap.xml, which covers most of it, and we crawl the live site as well to catch what the sitemap leaves out, like pages that were unlinked but still get traffic.
For each address we record:
- The page title and search description
- The headings and body text
- Every image, at the largest size Wix serves it
- Forms, buttons and where they lead
- Embedded maps, videos, booking widgets and anything else from a Wix app
That list becomes the checklist for the rebuild and, later, the list we check redirects against. A page that isn't on it is a page that can quietly disappear, and those are usually the ones somebody bookmarked years ago.
How the design comes across
Wix templates are built from fixed sections, and so is the WordPress block editor. We rebuild each section with the same fonts, colors, spacing and photo crops, so the new site reads as the same business. It also keeps the old version's quirks out, like text set as images or sections that only line up at one screen width.
The goal is that a regular customer doesn't notice anything changed. Most owners use the move to fix a few things they've been meaning to, and that's fine, but it happens after the like-for-like rebuild, not instead of it. Changing the design and the platform at the same time makes it hard to tell which one caused a drop in enquiries.
Blog posts, with their dates and addresses
Wix puts blog posts at /post/your-post-title by default. WordPress lets us set the same structure, so a post that lived at /post/spring-menu stays at /post/spring-menu. No redirect needed, and no link anywhere on the internet breaks.
Each post comes across with its original publish date, categories, featured image and the images inside it, downloaded into the WordPress media library rather than left pointing at Wix's servers. When the Wix plan is cancelled, Wix-hosted images stop loading, and a post full of broken images is one of the most common leftovers from a rushed move.
Forms, bookings, stores and Wix apps
Wix apps only run on Wix, so each one is replaced.
Forms are rebuilt on WordPress with the same fields, sent to the same inbox, and tested by sending a real submission before launch. Spam filtering comes with our plans.
Wix Bookings becomes a WordPress booking system set up with your services, hours and staff. Because a booking flow touches payments and calendars, we quote it before starting.
Wix Stores moves to WooCommerce with products, prices, variants and photos. Orders and customer accounts need care, so stores are quoted too.
Everything else (chat widgets, review badges, social feeds) gets a WordPress equivalent or a direct embed from the same provider.
How do you keep Google rankings after leaving Wix?
Rankings follow content and addresses. Keep both and the site keeps its standing, give or take a few weeks of movement that any move causes.
What we do for every Wix site:
- Match old paths wherever WordPress allows it, like /post/ for blog posts.
- Add a permanent 301 redirect from every address that has to change, checked against the list from step one.
- Carry over each page's title, search description and image alt text.
- Submit the new sitemap in Google Search Console once the domain points at the new site.
- Watch the 404 log for the first weeks, so any address that was missed gets a redirect the day someone hits it.
Wix product pages are a good example of step two. They live at /product-page/item-name on Wix and usually move to /product/item-name in WooCommerce, so each one needs a redirect.
The domain and email switch comes last
The new site is built and reviewed on a private address first. Nothing about the live site changes while that happens.
When you approve it, we copy every DNS record that isn't about the website (email records, verification records for Google and Microsoft) to wherever the domain will be managed, then point the website records at the new site. Email keeps flowing the whole time, because the records it depends on were already in place. If your domain was bought through Wix, it's still yours. We can point it from Wix or transfer it to a registrar you choose.
Only after the new site is live, and you've checked it, do you cancel the Wix plan. Our guide to DNS for WordPress sites explains the records involved if you want to see what changes.
What TopSyde does, and what it costs
We rebuild your Wix site on WordPress and send you a private preview link, usually within five business days. You look at it next to the old one, ask for anything you want changed, and only then decide.
For a typical business site the rebuild is free when you host with us at $89/mo per site, month to month. Stores, bookings, member areas and sites over 30 pages get a fixed quote before any work starts. Hosting includes updates, daily backups, daily malware scans, Auto SEO, AI edits for plain-language changes and a person to write to.
If you're still weighing whether to leave, our comparison of what a five-page site costs on Wix, Squarespace and WordPress runs the numbers. If you've decided, send us the address on our Wix to WordPress page and we'll tell you within 2 business hours what's on it. Leaving a different builder? Start here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my Wix site to WordPress?
No. Wix has no export for a whole site, so the site has to be rebuilt on WordPress from the live pages. Blog post text and images can be collected from the live site, which is what a rebuild works from.
Will my Wix site go offline during the move?
No. The WordPress site is built on a private address while the Wix site stays live. The switch happens when the domain is pointed at the new site, which takes minutes, and visitors never see a gap.
Do I lose my domain if I leave Wix?
No. A domain bought through Wix is registered in your name. You can keep it at Wix and point it at the new site, or transfer it to another registrar once it's past the 60-day lock that applies to new registrations and transfers.
What happens to my Wix email?
If your email runs through Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, the mailbox doesn't live on Wix and keeps working as long as its DNS records are copied before the switch. Check where the mailbox is billed before cancelling anything, so the subscription isn't cancelled along with the site.
How long does a Wix to WordPress migration take?
For a typical small business site, we send a preview within five business days. Stores and booking systems take longer and are scheduled when they're quoted. The final switch takes minutes.
Is WordPress harder to edit than Wix?
It can be if you edit it yourself, which is why our plans include AI edits for plain-language changes and an hour of developer time a month. Most owners ask for a change and never open the editor.
Founder & Lead Developer
20+ years full-stack development, WordPress, AI tools & agents
Colton is the founder of TopSyde with 20+ years of full-stack development experience spanning WordPress, cloud infrastructure, and AI-powered tooling. He specializes in performance optimization, server architecture, and building AI agents for automated site management.
